Okay, how many have hauled farm equipment out of s

How many haul tractors across state lines without a DOT# without any problem? Anyone ever had a problem? Thanks, Phillip

I just got back June 5th from running seven States, AZ TX NM OK MO IL and KS pulling 31k GCW with my F350DRW & 32ft dual tandum flatbed loaded with two IH tractors and some misc.

I hit several States that I was automaticly weighed as I passed by on the InterState scales, and a few also had cameras along with the auto weigh.

In TX, I had a TXDOT officer follow me for a few miles and then stopped a east bound 18wheeler but he never bothered me. He was using my load to hide behind.

In most States, I seen several State Patrolmen with-in 20 miles of the scale house other than NM as I never seen a cop in NM, period.

I did NOT scale in any State as I'm exempt as I'm NOT commerical.

The only scale house that I passed that could even possible apply to me was in NM but the sign wording was not clear, so I didn't stop.

All the other scale signs contained the word "commerical" and "commerical" did not apply to me.

The most interesting scale sign was in AZ: "Do not change lanes for 1/2 mile" or until you were passed the auto weigh eqipment. AZ also has InterState auto weigh and cameras.

For me, until I get stopped, I will never scale.

T_Bone

Sorry to disagree with you but your wrong as I am exempt as the word commerical appeared in every sign but one, NM. I'M NOT COMMERICAL.

Under your thinking every 10k RV trailer out there would have to scale, but they don't. Why? There not commerical loads.

If Minnesota has commerical on there signage, I will not stop.

T_Bone

Commercial motor vehicle means any self-propelled or towed motor vehicle used on a highway in interstate commerce to transport passengers or property when the vehicle --

(1) Has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating, or gross vehicle weight or gross combination weight, of 4,536 kg (10,001 pounds) or more, whichever is greater; or

(2) Is designed or used to transport more than 8 passengers (including the driver) for compensation; or

(3) Is designed or used to transport more than 15 passengers, including the driver, and is not used to transport passengers for compensation; or

(4) Is used in transporting material found by the Secretary of Transportation to be hazardous under 49 U.S.C. 5103 and transported in a quantity requiring placarding under regulations prescribed by the Secretary under 49 CFR, subtitle B, chapter I, subchapter C.

"Commercial motor vehicle means any self-propelled or towed motor vehicle used on a highway in interstate commerce to transport passengers or property when the vehicle -- "

This part, "commerical" and "in interstate commerce" is what exempts me as I have no intention of selling the tractors I bought nor using the trators for the production of profits between States.

Maybe that is why most Port of Enteries now have cameras. With the fast computers we have now days they surely can match my plate if I was to pass with another load of tractors with-in a short time period. That would then bring to question why am I hauling so many tractors.

I went to Webster's to find the meaning of commerce and commerical. Commerce would be the trade between States and Commerical would be for profit.

Now in AZ, you are allowed to buy and sell four vehicles per year per person without having to obtain a license. So I would also think that would apply to tractors or any other type of vechile if my "intent" (It wasn't) was to sell the tractors that I bought.

I sure wish this topic was on a slow moving Forum as this is interesting.

T_Bone

You are Not commercial because of your reasons as long as you stay in AZ. But on your trip you did not stay in AZ so lets look at it.

You fit in #1 because you were over 10,000 lbs.
So were you commercial.
Your vehicle was self propelled.
You were transporting property.
But was you involved in interstate commerce.
I have to say yes but here is the definition from the DOT regs.

Interstate commerce means trade, traffic, or transportation in the United States --

(b)(1) Between a place in a State and a place outside of such State (including a place outside of the United States);

(b)(2) Between two places in a State through another State or a place outside of the United States; or

(b)(3) Between two places in a State as part of trade, traffic, or transportation originating or terminating outside the State or the United States.

Notice it does not say trade; traffic AND transportation. It says OR.
We will agree that you were not trading; but you were transporting property between one state and another.

While I do not agree with the rules on some points they are the rules we have to follow.

Wow with reading the regs most everything private can be stopped by DOT. Also explains how CO-DOT had cause to stop my son with his bass boat and Ranger. I've always wondered what rule they used to pull him over.

I have to agree with you now that you've posted the regs, that I was illegal. I never thought about reading DOT definitions of terms. Thanks!

T_Bone

I've also seen this happen in CO. In CO you must register for the weight of your GCWR even if you only haul 1k#. CO law assumes if your rated to haul 40kGCW then it doesn't matter if you only haul 5k but thats commerical law. I can see how they will apply that to a non commerical hauler tho even tho it's not correct.

I personally would pursue a ticket in court if that happened as I would want a Judges decision.

Read what happen to my son a few years back:

My son went to Co. to pick up a 14ft bass boat his Grandfather gave him using his AZ, Ranger pick-up. He's comes past the scales at Cortez, Co and heads south to the Four Corners. Just as he gets to Four corners about 70miles away, he gets pulled over by DOT;

DOT says "Why didn't you scale at Cortez?

Son says "I was unware that trailers under 10,000lbs had to scale. Is this a spot check or something?"

DOT says "No, we help Game and Fish out and find most motor homes have over there limit in game. We noticed in the camera your AZ truck plate and the CO boat plate. You need to return to the Cortez scales, wheres your license"

Son hands his "CDL" license to the DOT officer.

About 10 minutes latter DOT officer comes back really pissed. My son is Federal Marshall and every time he gets stopped or questioned, his supervisor has to be notified. Read this as 4 hrs of paper work for the DOT officer :)

He "let him go" for being a fellow officer but got a chewing out for failing to indenifiy himself.

T_Bone

I was digging into AZDOT rules awhile back and found that tractors need turn signals and stop lites if the vechicle behind them can't see hand signals.

I never did find anything on SMV signage but they must have it somewhere in the codes as out County Sheriff passed out free SMV signs for our water trailers as some new comers were complainig about country living.

T_Bone

I must have missed that sign or it said commerical on it. I should have taken some notes exactly what the signs said as that would have been a good discussion.

T_Bone

States not so simple - in MN if you are engaged in furthering a business & over 10K lbs then yes you need DOT vehicle safety inspections, DOT #, & medical with a CDL type log - punch time card from employer etc. Over 26K = CDL.

State Patrol Commercial division said "DOT # for crossing state lines is a gray area." If they don"t know who does??

If you are hauling a hobby around then none above applies. Farm tags limit you in terms of distance from farm & distance into bordering states.

My 2002 Chevy 2500HD Ext cab weighs 9200lbs per the door sticker. But, the registration comes back with it listed at 8,000lbs. I went to the DMV to get bigger plates. They told me not to worry about it. I felt like I was trying to do this correctly.

I pull a 34 foot GN horsetrailer, 12 foot dump trailer, and a 25 foot lowboy.

I always thought you tagged for the truck, then the trailer was tagged on it's own. -phillip

Just cause your trailer is rated at 16,000 lbs does not mean you can go to 26,000 lbs.

Be very careful and thread lightly. A 16,000 lb trailer also requires a CDL.

You can tag your truck for what ever you want to. Just do not get caught with a 8000lb tag and weighing 26,000lbs. Really bad scene even though your truck can haul it.

1)
If you are rated for 26,000 lbs Gross or over (everything)
If your trailer is rated for 10,000 lbs (just trailer)
You haul hazardous materials in a quantity that requires a placard
You need a CDL license. Has nothing to do with dot #'s

2)
If you are rated over 10,000 lbs gross you truck is classified as a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) unless you meet one of the exemptions out lined in the rules.
If your truck is a CMV you would need to follow DOT rules.

3) extra added rule
#1 and #2 have nothing to do with weights and standards who controls weight stations. Each state has different rules as to who needs to stop.

These rules are old and have not caught up with the times. Use to be no one owned a pickup never alone a 1 ton so they structured the rules around this. The CDL rule is newer and as you can see it only applies to a higher weight class.

Most DOT do not mess with anyone under 26,000 lbs now a days because they know the horse crowd and a lot of others have 1 tons.

If you are hauling for hire I would suggest you follow the rules to the letter.

If you are only hauling for pleasure and hauling only stuff you own you could like everyone else decide it is not worth it and just go down the road. While technically you are not legal.

You could get farm tags; class it as a RV; ect to get in under one of the other exemptions but most do not worry about it because every one else does it.

Not giving advise to follow this train of thought just explaining the rules.

any way these guys dont tarp.. they past the neighbor lady while she was drivng 90 on a 2 lane (ya she's a hard nose broad wasnt going to get her newly washed car sooted up with coal only thing was that ford500 would only do 90 the quad axle loaded passed her... LOL

oh and the DOT was ordered to leave the area alone..(DOT told us) seams a former Health and Human Services director--and former govenor of our state made a phone call on behalf of the TRUCKERS in his EMploy.....

one of these trucks hit me in the rear then drove off.. another hit the mirror in my truck and drove on. we had the #;'s no help.